Volunteers in Tonbridge and Malling have been working to create a wildlife habitat.

In 2013, the Haysden Country Park Volunteers were successful in a community award and secured £1600 of funding, which is going towards the latest project.

Volunteers have begun trying to create the habitat in the area between Rainbow Pond and the Shallows.

Since securing the funding, they have worked hard to bring the plans to fruition. This autumn the Environment Agency helped to remove large willow trees in the river channel and used an excavator to remove weed and silt to recreate a river channel in The Shallows.

Helpers cleared the banks to provide safe access for the excavator, and will later restore the vegetation which was removed for work access.

"The Environment Agency has given us invaluable advice and provided the expertise to bring this project to life" - Kevin Lavender...

Chairman of the Haysden Country Park Volunteers Kevin Lavender said: "I am very grateful to our volunteer, Sue Hennessy, for her fund raising efforts.

"The Environment Agency has given us invaluable advice and provided the expertise to bring this project to life.

Mr Lavender also thanked members of the public that voted for the group to be provided with funding.

Cllr Maria Heslop, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council’s cabinet member for leisure, youth and arts, said: "This just goes to show what can be achieved by volunteers and what a huge difference it makes when the community works together. Congratulations to all involved."

Tony Young, operations field team leader at the Environment Agency, said: “This was a great project to be involved in and I am delighted we were able to support it. The volunteers have done a great job and we look forward to working with them again in the future.”